Method and System for Tracking Surfer Data

ABSTRACT

A sensor, sensor system and methods that measure surfer metrics and ride data and display the data.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 62/929,342, filed Nov. 1, 2019.

FIELD OF THE INVENTIONS

The inventions described below relate to the field of a sensor, sensor system and methods for measuring surfer metrics and ride data.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

Surfing has surged in popularity in recent years. Every surfer has their own unique style of surfing that affects the way the rider moves their body to give power to the board in order to move through the water. There is a need to obtain and record surfer data in order to use the data to increase performance levels and compare ride results with other sessions and surfers. There is also a need to obtain statistical data from surfers to provide this data to judges of surf competitions in order to enhance objective judging of surf competitors. Finally, there is also a need to provide reliable information to spectators of the details of the surfer's ride to enhance the spectator experience.

SUMMARY

A sensor is used to record all the movements a surfer experiences when they are in the water. The sensor can be mounted on the surface of a surfboard directly or alternatively can be embedded in the heel of a surf traction pad. The sensor provides instantaneous or near instantaneous performance measurements of the various aspects of surfers' performance. The surfers' paddling metrics, wave count, wave performance metrics, energy exerted on the surfboard, endurance milestones, equipment comparison, wave speed and relative speed to wave and shore are measured by the sensor and transmitted to a receiver and converted to user friendly data using various software. The data feeds can be used for athlete training and coaching, real-time data for media broadcasts, statistical tracking, judging criteria in competitive events, or documenting the experience for recreational users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surfboard sensor.

FIG. 2 is an internal view of the sensor including the sensor components.

FIG. 3 is another is another internal view of the sensor including the sensor components.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the back surface of a surf traction pad showing a sensor embedded within the aft portion of the heel of the traction pad.

FIG. 5 is a view of a sensor within a traction pad that is secured to the top of a surfboard.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a surfboard sensor 1 within a waterproof housing 2. FIGS. 2 and 3 are internal views of the sensor including the sensor components. Sensor 1 includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) 3, Global Positioning System (GPS) 4, communication device 5 and Central Processing Unit (CPU) 6. The sensor can optionally include a battery 7, USB portal 8, a power button 9, and deck plugs 10 (shown in FIG. 1) for securing the sensor to the top of a surfboard. The sensor 1 is operable to detect and record the motion and position associated with the surfboard (shown in FIG. 5). The motion parameters and data associated with the detected motion and position from the IMU 3 and GPS 4 are collected and processed through the sensor CPU 6. The data is analyzed by a motion detection and recognition system and delivered, via the communication device, to a data retransmit interface 11 that analyses and displays the data. The display can be located on the shore of the beach while the surfer is in the water.

The waterproof housing 2 ensures that the sensor is not damaged when the surfboard is in the water. The IMU 3 measures and reports the surfboard's specific orientation, force feedback and rotational velocity via an accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, position sensor or tilt sensor. The IMU collects a minimum of 100 Mz readings to obtain all necessary readings. The GPS tracker 4 plots the surfer's travel path in order to use the readings to calculate condition parameters such as wave size and swell directions. The GPS also collects the surfers' speed. The CPU 6 includes a computing system that is operable to perform computations received from the IMU and GPS and transmit, via the communication device, the readings to the data transmit interface. The sensor can be secured directly to the top surface of a surfboard via adhesion, suction cups or deck plugs 10. The CPU can be contained on the sensor or alternatively at a distance from the sensor, such as on the shore while the surfer is in the water.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the back surface of a traction pad 12 showing a sensor 1 embedded within the aft portion of the heel 13 of the traction pad. The traction pad includes a foam sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface. The top surface has a first toe portion 14 and an opposite upright heel portion 15. The upright heel portion has a forward surface that cradles the heel of a surfer during a ride, and an opposite aft surface. The traction pad heel is configured to have a cavity 16 to house the sensor 1. The sensor is inserted into the housing and releasably secured within the housing. The sensor does not affect the rider's ability to correctly position his feet on the top surface of the traction pad and does not interfere with the rider when surfing. The sensor is securely locked and is detachable for replacement.

The sensor 1 is inserted into the aft surface of the heel portion because the surfers' foot does not engage with this portion of the track pad during a ride. The position of the sensor in the heel removes the possibility that a surfers' foot will interfere with the functioning of the sensor from any interference by the surfers' foot. The bottom surface of the traction pad includes an attachment film for releasable attachment to the top surface of a surfboard. The top surface of the traction pad includes indentations 17 or protrusions to provide grip to the surfers' feet. The traction pad can be a single unitary piece or can be provided in several sections.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sensor 1 inserted within the heel portion of the traction pad and secured to the top of a surfboard 18.

In use, the sensor is configured to track motion data of the surfboard while the surfer is riding a wave. The surfer rides a wave while the IMU receives and records the surfboard's specific orientation, force feedback and rotational velocity. The GPS tracker also tracks surfer position and surfer travel path. The IMU and GPS readings are analyzed by the CPU and delivered through the communication device to the data transmit interface. The processor is configured to retrieve the motion data from the sensor device and transmit the motion data according to a predetermined transfer protocol. A repeater may also be used to retransmit the motion data from the surfboard to the shore. Thus, the data transmit interface can be on the shore while the surfer is in the water in order to minimize the amount of space utilized on the surfboard. The data transmitted from the processor can be stored for review after the ride and can also be displayed during the ride to which it pertains. The data can be output as an athletic performance metric of the surfer. The data can be processed to output the surfer data as a virtual form.

The data feeds can be used for athlete training and coaching, real-time data for media broadcasts, statistical tracking, judging criteria in competitive events, or documenting the experience for recreational users. The data can correlate to single or multiple users.

While the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods have been described in reference to the environment in which they were developed, they are merely illustrative of the principles of the inventions. The elements of the various embodiments may be incorporated into each of the other species to obtain the benefits of those elements in combination with such other species, and the various beneficial features may be employed in embodiments alone or in combination with each other. Other embodiments and configurations may be devised without departing from the spirit of the inventions and the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A system for use in tracking a surfboard comprising: a traction pad that includes a sheet having a top surface and a bottom surface, the top surface having a toe portion and an opposite upright heel portion with a forward surface and opposite aft surface, the aft heel portion including a cavity; and a sensor configured to be inserted within the cavity of the aft heel portion of the traction pad and releasably secured therein; wherein the sensor is operable to detect and record the motion and position associated with the surfboard.
 2. The system wherein the sensor further includes an inertial measurement unit to detect motion and position data and GPS to detect velocity, acceleration and elevation data of the surfboard and a communication device that transmits the data via a retransmit interface to a display.
 3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a CPU operable to process the data from the inertial measurement unit and GPS.
 4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a data transmit interface operable to display the processed data.
 5. A surfer tracking and training method comprising the steps of: providing a sensor configured to track position, motion and ride metrics data while the surfer is on the surfboard; providing a processor configured to retrieve the data from the sensor and process the data; and transmitting the data to a data transmit interface to display the surfer position, motion and ride metrics.
 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of inserting the sensor within a traction pad.
 7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of releasably adhering the traction pad to top surface of surfboard.
 8. The method of claims 5 further comprising the step of transmitting the data according to a predetermined transfer protocol.
 9. The method of claim 5 wherein the data can be processed to output the surfer data as a virtual form.
 10. The method of claim 5 wherein the data is output as an athletic performance metric of the surfer.
 11. The method of claim 10 wherein the data output is correlated to a single surfer.
 12. The method of claim 10 wherein the data output is correlated to multiple surfers. 